Display device having display panel and a case that covers an edge of the display panel

ABSTRACT

Provided is a display device which may include a display panel having a long side in a first direction, a short side in a second direction, and a thickness in a third direction, a back cabinet disposed in the rear of the display panel, and a case that covers an edge of a front surface of the display panel. The case may include a horizontal case that covers an edge of the front surface of the display panel on a long side of the display panel and a vertical case covering an edge of the front surface of the display panel on a short side of the display panel. The horizontal case and the vertical case may be coupled to each other in a region corresponding to a corner of the display panel, and the horizontal case and the vertical case may be formed of different materials.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/537,358 filed on Nov. 10, 2014, which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Patent Application No.10-2014-0008003, filed on Jan. 22, 2014, whose entire disclosures arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a display device.

2. Background

With the development of the information society, various demands fordisplay devices have been increasing. Various display devices, such asliquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs),electroluminescent displays (ELDs), and vacuum fluorescent displays(VFDs), have been recently studied and used to meet various demands forthe display devices. Among the display devices, a liquid crystal displaypanel of the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal layer, anda thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a color filter substratewhich are positioned opposite each other with the liquid crystal layerinterposed therebetween. The liquid crystal display panel displays animage using light provided by a backlight unit of the liquid crystaldisplay. Display devices have various types of enclosures or cases.Display devices having improved cases that reduces unnecessary use ofmaterials is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate configuration of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 3 to 16 illustrate a front case;

FIGS. 17 to 22 illustrate a guide panel; and

FIGS. 23 to 46 illustrate in detail configuration of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail embodiments of the disclosureexamples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Sincethe present disclosure may be modified in various ways and may havevarious forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings andare described in detail in the present specification. However, it shouldbe understood that the present disclosure are not limited to specificdisclosed embodiments, but include all modifications, equivalents andsubstitutes included within the spirit and technical scope of thepresent disclosure.

The terms ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. may be used to describe variouscomponents, but the components are not limited by such terms. The termsare used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from othercomponents. For example, a first component may be designated as a secondcomponent without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Inthe same manner, the second component may be designated as the firstcomponent.

The term “and/or” encompasses both combinations of the plurality ofrelated items disclosed and any item from among the plurality of relateditems disclosed.

When an arbitrary component is described as “being connected to “or”being linked to” another component, this should be understood to meanthat still another component(s) may exist between them, although thearbitrary component may be directly connected to, or linked to, thesecond component. In contrast, when an arbitrary component is describedas “being directly connected to” or “being directly linked to” anothercomponent, this should be understood to mean that no component existsbetween them.

The terms used in the present application are used to describe onlyspecific embodiments or examples, and are not intended to limit thepresent disclosure. A singular expression can include a pluralexpression as long as it does not have an apparently different meaningin context.

In the present application, the terms “include” and “have” should beunderstood to be intended to designate that illustrated features,numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereofexist and not to preclude the existence of one or more differentfeatures, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinationsthereof, or the possibility of the addition thereof.

Unless otherwise specified, all of the terms which are used herein,including the technical or scientific terms, have the same meanings asthose that are generally understood by a person having ordinaryknowledge in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The termsdefined in a generally used dictionary must be understood to havemeanings identical to those used in the context of a related art, andare not to be construed to have ideal or excessively formal meaningsunless they are obviously specified in the present application.

The following exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure areprovided to those skilled in the art in order to describe the presentdisclosure more completely. Accordingly, shapes and sizes of elementsshown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display panel is used as an example of adisplay panel. Other display panels may be used. For example, a plasmadisplay panel (PDP), a field emission display (FED) panel, and anorganic light emitting display panel may be used.

In the following description, a first direction DR1 may be a directionparallel to long sides LS1 and LS2 of a display panel 420, and a seconddirection DR2 may be a direction parallel to short sides SS1 and SS2 ofthe display panel 420.

Further, a third direction DR3 may be a direction vertical to the firstdirection DR1 and/or the second direction DR2. The first direction DR1and the second direction DR2 may be commonly referred to as a horizontaldirection. Further, the third direction DR3 may be referred to as avertical direction.

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate configuration of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. A display device100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may include a displaypanel 420, a top case 410, and a back cabinet 460. The top case 410 mayalso be referred to herein as a front case or a front cover. Moreover,the back cabinet 460 may also be referred to herein as a bottom cabinetor bottom cover.

The display panel 420 displaying an image may include a front substrateand a back substrate, which are positioned opposite each other. The topcase 410 may cover an edge of a front surface of the display panel 420.More specifically, the display panel 420 may include a first long sideLS1, a second long side LS2 opposite the first long side LS1, a firstshort side SS1 adjacent to the first long side LS1 and the second longside LS2, and a second short side SS2 opposite the first short side SS1.The top case 410 may cover the edge of the front surface of the displaypanel 420 on all of the first and second long sides LS1 and LS2 and thefirst and second short sides SS1 and SS2. The top case 410 may bedivided into a plurality of parts. The top case 410 is described indetail below.

The back cabinet 460 may be disposed in the rear of the display panel420 and may protect various parts positioned between the display panel420 and the back cabinet 460. A back cover 450 may be disposed betweenthe display panel 420 and the back cabinet 460. Various parts includinga driving board (for example, a printed circuit board), light sources(not shown), etc. may be disposed on the back cover 450.

A light guide plate 440 may be disposed between the back cover 450 andthe display panel 420. As described above, when the light guide plate440 is disposed, an edge type backlight unit, in which the light sourcesare positioned on the side of the light guide plate 440, may be appliedto the embodiment of the disclosure.

If the light guide plate 440 is omitted, a direct type backlight unit,in which the light sources are positioned under the display panel 420,may be applied to the embodiment of the disclosure. An optical layer(not shown) may be disposed between the light guide plate 440 and thedisplay panel 420. A guide panel 430 may be disposed in the rear of thedisplay panel 420. Moreover, a fastening member 470 may fasten the backcover 450 to the back cabinet 460.

The top case 410, the display panel 420, the guide panel 430, the lightguide plate 440, and the back cover 450 (or bottom cover) may beincluded in a display module 100M. The display module 100M may furtherinclude the optical layer, the light sources, and the like.

FIGS. 3 to 16 illustrate the top case 410. In the following description,simply for ease of discussion, duplicative descriptions of theconfiguration and the structure described above may be briefly made ormay be entirely omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top case 410 may include horizontal top cases410H1 and 410H2 covering an edge of the front surface of the displaypanel 420 on the long sides LS1 and LS2 of the display panel 420 andvertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 covering an edge of the front surfaceof the display panel 420 on the short sides SS1 and SS2 of the displaypanel 420.

The horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 may include a first horizontaltop case 410H1 corresponding to the first long side LS1 of the displaypanel 420 and a second horizontal top case 410H2 corresponding to thesecond long side LS2 of the display panel 420.

The vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may include a first vertical topcase 410V1 corresponding to the first short side SS1 of the displaypanel 420 and a second vertical top case 410V2 corresponding to thesecond short side SS2 of the display panel 420.

The horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 and the vertical top cases410V1 and 410V2 may be connected on the corner of the display panel 420.Namely, the first horizontal top case 410H1 and the first vertical topcase 410V1 may be connected to each other on the corner of the firstlong side LS1 and the first short side SS1 of the display panel 420. Thefirst horizontal top case 410H1 and the second vertical top case 410V2may be connected to each other on the corner of the first long side LS1and the second short side SS2 of the display panel 420. The secondhorizontal top case 410H2 and the first vertical top case 410V1 may beconnected to each other on the corner of the second long side LS2 andthe first short side SS1 of the display panel 420. The second horizontaltop case 410H2 and the second vertical top case 410V2 may be connectedto each other on the corner of the second long side LS2 and the secondshort side SS2 of the display panel 420.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 mayinclude a first part 500, a second part 510 connected to the first part500, and a third part 520 connected to the second part 510. In a crosssection of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2, the first part 500may extend in the second direction DR2 of the horizontal direction(i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR2) and mayinclude a portion covering an edge of the front surface of the displaypanel 420 on the long sides LS1 and LS2 of the display panel 420.

The second part 510 may extend from a first end E1 of the first part 500and may include a portion positioned on the side of the display panel420 on the long sides LS1 and LS2 of the display panel 420. The thirdpart 520 may extend from an end of the second part 510 in the seconddirection DR2 of the horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1and/or the second direction DR2).

Each of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 may further include afourth part 530 connected to the first part 500 and a sixth part 550connected to the third part 520. The fourth part 530 may extend from asecond end E2 opposite the first end E1 of the first part 500 in thevertical direction (i.e., the third direction DR3) and may be positionedon the front surface of the display panel 420 on the long sides LS1 andLS2 of the display panel 420. The sixth part 550 may extend from thethird part 520 in the vertical direction (i.e., the third directionDR3).

As shown in FIG. 5, the second part 510 may include a portion having asurface bending in an oblique direction. In this instance, the secondpart 510 may include a surface which extends from the first part 500 inthe oblique direction and convexly bends. Moreover, each of thehorizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 may have a first wall thickness T1.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 mayfurther include a fifth part 540. The fifth part 540 may extend from thefourth part 530 in the second direction DR2 of the horizontal direction(i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR2). Thefifth part 540 may be used to connect the horizontal top cases 410H1 and410H2 with the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2. The fifth part 540may have a variety of shapes and may be referred to herein as a tab orprotrusion.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sixth part 550 of each of the horizontal topcases 410H1 and 410H2 may have a first hole H1 through which a fasteningmember passes. The first hole H1 may be used to connect the horizontaltop cases 410H1 and 410H2 with another structure, for example, thevertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 and/or the guide panel 430.

The sixth part 550 may be omitted in both end areas W1 of each of thehorizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2. That is, a length of the sixthpart 550 in the first direction DR1 may be less than a length of thefirst part 500. As described above, when the sixth part 550 is omittedin the end areas W1 of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2, thehorizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 and the vertical top cases 410V1and 410V2 may be easily connected on the corners of the display panel420.

As described above, the horizontal top case 410H1, 410H2 covers an edgeon the front surface of the display panel. Here, the first part 500 maybe referred to as a front surface, the second part 510 may be referredto as a lateral surface, and the third part 520 may be referred to as arear surface. The fourth part 530 may be referred to as a flange. Thefifth part 540 may be referred to as a tab, flange or protrusion.Moreover, the sixth part 550 may be referred to as a flange.

As shown in FIG. 8, each of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 mayinclude a first part 600 (also referred to as a horizontal part) and asecond part 610 (also referred to herein as a vertical part) connectedto the first part 600. The first part 600 may be referred to as a frontsurface and the second part 610 may be referred to as a lateral surfaceof the vertical case.

The first part 600 may extend in the first direction DR1 of thehorizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the seconddirection DR2) and may include a portion covering an edge of the frontsurface of the display panel 420 on the short sides SS1 and SS2 of thedisplay panel 420. The second part 610 may extend from the first part600 and may include a portion positioned on the side of the displaypanel 420 on the short sides SS1 and SS2 of the display panel 420.

Each of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may further include afirst auxiliary part 620 extending from the second part 610 in the firstdirection DR1 of the horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1and/or the second direction DR2) and a second auxiliary part 630extending from the first auxiliary part 620 in the vertical direction(i.e., the third direction DR3). Moreover, each of the vertical topcases 410V1 and 410V2 may have a second wall thickness T2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second part 610 of each of the vertical topcases 410V1 and 410V2 may include an extension 640 which extends furtherthan the first part 600 by a predetermined height W2 in the seconddirection DR2 of the horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1and/or the second direction DR2). Each of the vertical top cases 410V1and 410V2 may further include an overlap part 650 (also referred toherein as a protrusion) extending from the extension 640 in the firstdirection DR1 of the horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1and/or the second direction DR2).

As shown in FIG. 10, the overlap part 650 may include a connection part660 (also referred to herein as a tab) which extends in the verticaldirection (i.e., the third direction DR3) and has a second hole H2. Thesecond hole H2 may correspond to the first hole H1.

As shown in FIG. 11, the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 and thevertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may be connected on the corners ofthe display panel 420. The fifth part 540 of the horizontal top cases410H1 and 410H2 may be inserted into a lower part of the first part 600of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2.

As shown in FIG. 12, a first fastening member S100, such as a screw, maypass through the first hole H1 and the second hole H2 and may connectthe horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 with the vertical top cases410V1 and 410V2.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 andthe vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 are connected, the fifth part 540of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 may be covered by the firstpart 600 of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2. Further, the overlappart 650 of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may be covered by thehorizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2.

As shown in FIG. 14, the fifth part 540 of the horizontal top cases410H1 and 410H2 may be inserted into a lower part of the first part 600of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2. Further, the horizontal topcases 410H1 and 410H2 may cover the edge of the front surface of thedisplay panel 420 on the long sides LS1 and LS2 of the display panel420, and the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may cover the edge ofthe front surface of the display panel 420 on the short sides SS1 andSS2 of the display panel 420.

The horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 and the vertical top cases410V1 and 410V2 may be aligned by the fifth parts 540 of the horizontaltop cases 410H1 and 410H2 and the overlap parts 650 of the vertical topcases 410V1 and 410V2.

The first wall thickness T1 of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2may be less than the second wall thickness T2 of the vertical top cases410V1 and 410V2.

The horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 and the vertical top cases410V1 and 410V2 may be formed of different materials. Preferably, thehorizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 may contain a metal material, andthe vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may contain a plastic material.

A reason to divide the top case 410 into the horizontal top cases 410H1and 410H2 and the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 formed of differentmaterials is described below. As shown in FIG. 15, when the top case 410is manufactured using only a metal material, a mother metal plate 700may be processed through a press working method to manufacture a topcase.

More specifically, as shown in (A) of FIG. 15, a middle portion 710 ofthe mother metal plate 700 may be removed along a predetermined cuttingline CL in a press working process. Afterwards, as shown in (B) of FIG.15, an outer portion 720 positioned outside the middle portion 710 ofthe mother metal plate 700 may be used as the top case. In thisinstance, because the middle portion 710 of the mother metal plate 700is wasted, the manufacturing cost of the display device may increase dueto the unnecessary waste of material.

On the other hand, when the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 areformed of a metal material and the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2are formed of a plastic material as in the embodiment of the disclosure,the first horizontal top case 410H1, the second horizontal top case410H2, the first vertical top case 410V1, and the second vertical topcase 410V2 may be individually manufactured. Therefore, the unnecessarywaste of material may be reduced. Hence, the manufacturing cost of thedisplay device may be reduced.

Paint or tape may be applied to a surface of at least one of the firstpart 600 and the second part 610 of each of the vertical top cases 410V1and 410V2, so as to match surface colors of the horizontal top cases410H1 and 410H2 and the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2. For example,a silver paint or a silver tape may be applied to the surface of atleast one of the first part 600 and the second part 610 of each of thevertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2, and thus the vertical top cases410V1 and 410V2 may appear to have a metal surface that matches thehorizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 16, a cover 800 containing a metalmaterial may be disposed on the surface of at least one of the firstpart 600 and the second part 610 of each of the vertical top cases 410V1and 410V2.

FIGS. 17 to 22 illustrate the guide panel. In the following description,the descriptions of the configuration and the structure described abovemay be briefly made or may be entirely omitted.

As shown in FIG. 17, the guide panel 430 may include a base part 900 anda side wall 910 connected to the base part 900. The base part 900 mayextend in the horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/orthe second direction DR2). The base part 900 may be attached to a backsurface of the display panel 420 through an adhesive layer 1000.

A groove 902, to which the adhesive layer 1000 is applied, may be formedon a bottom surface (i.e., a first surface S1) of the base part 900. Aprotrusion 901 protruding in the vertical direction (i.e., the thirddirection DR3) may be formed on an upper surface (i.e., a second surfaceS2) opposite the bottom surface S1 of the base part 900.

As shown in FIG. 18, the guide panel 430 may further include an innerwall 920. The inner wall 920 may be positioned between the side wall 910and the protrusion 901. The inner wall 920 may extend from the uppersurface S2 of the base part 900 in the vertical direction (i.e., thethird direction DR3).

The side wall 910 may include a forward part 912 extending forward fromthe base part 900 in the vertical direction (i.e., the third directionDR3) and a backward part 911 extending backwards from the base part 900in the vertical direction (i.e., the third direction DR3). A length W4of the backward part 911 may be longer than a length W5 of the forwardpart 912. Further, the length W4 of the backward part 911 of the sidewall 910 may be longer than a length of the inner wall 920 by apredetermined length W3.

A first end E1 of the side wall 910 is one end of the backward part 911,and a second end E2 of the side wall 910 is one end of the forward part912. Further, the other end of the backward part 911 and the other endof the forward part 912 may be connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 19, the groove 902 is formed on the bottom surface S1of the guide panel 430. The forward part 912 of the side wall 910 of theguide panel 430 may include a guide part 903 protruding in thehorizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the seconddirection DR2). The guide part 903 may prevent the side of the displaypanel 420 from colliding with the forward part 912 of the side wall 910.

A buffer 904 with elasticity may be disposed between the guide part 903and the side of the display panel 420. The buffer 904 may be formed of amaterial with elasticity, for example, a resin material.

As shown in FIG. 20, the guide panel 430 may include a plurality ofinner walls 920 which are positioned to be separated from one another inthe horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or thesecond direction DR2). The side wall 910 may be also divided into aplurality of parts. Namely, the plurality of side walls 910 may bepositioned to be separated from one another in the horizontal direction(i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR2).

A space between the side walls 910 positioned adjacent in the horizontaldirection (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the second directionDR2) may be referred to as a path 930. At least one path 930 may overlapthe inner wall 920.

As shown in FIG. 21, the guide panel 430 may further include a firsthook HK1 protruding from an external surface EXS of the side wall 910 inthe horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or thesecond direction DR2). The first hook HK1 may correspond to apredetermined hole of the top case 410. For example, as shown in FIG.22, each of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may have a third holeH3 corresponding to the first hook HK1.

FIGS. 23 to 46 illustrate in detail configuration of the display deviceaccording to the embodiment of the disclosure. In the followingdescription, the descriptions of the configuration and the structuredescribed above may be briefly made or may be entirely omitted.

As shown in FIG. 23, the display device 100 according to the embodimentof the disclosure may include an optical layer 1100 and the light guideplate 440. The optical layer 1100 may include a plurality of sheets. Forexample, the optical layer 1100 may include a diffusion sheet 1110 and aprism sheet 1120. The optical layer 1100 may be disposed on the basepart 900 of the guide panel 430. More specifically, the optical layer1100 may be disposed on the protrusion 901 of the base part 900 of theguide panel 430.

The protrusion 901 may reduce an area of a contact surface between theoptical layer 1100 and the guide panel 430. An air gap of apredetermined width Z1 may be formed between the optical layer 1100 andthe display panel 420 in the vertical direction (i.e., the thirddirection DR3).

The back cover 450 may be disposed in the rear of the optical layer1100. The back cover 450 may be placed on the inner wall 920 of theguide panel 430. The back cover 450 may be connected to the side wall910 of the guide panel 430 through a predetermined second fasteningmember S200. A method for connecting the back cover 450 with the guidepanel 430 is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 24, the back cabinet 460 may be disposed in the rear ofthe back cover 450, and the top case 410 covering the edge of the frontsurface of the display panel 420 may be disposed. The top case 410 maycover the side wall 910 of the guide panel 430 on the side of thedisplay device 100.

As shown in FIG. 25, the back cover 450 may include a horizontal framepart 451 extending in the horizontal direction (i.e., the firstdirection DR1 and/or the second direction DR2) and an inclined part 454which extends from the horizontal frame part 451 in an obliquedirection. Further, the back cover 450 may include an upward part 452protruding backwards from an end of the back cover 450 in the verticaldirection (i.e., the third direction DR3) and a downward part 453protruding forward from the end of the back cover 450 in the verticaldirection (i.e., the third direction DR3).

As shown in FIG. 26, the downward part 453 may be disposed between theside wall 910 and the inner wall 920 of the guide panel 430. The topcase 410 may be separated from an end of the back cabinet 460 by apredetermined distance Z2 in the vertical direction (i.e., the thirddirection DR3) in a state where the top case 410 and the back cabinet460 are installed. For example, the third parts 520 of the horizontaltop cases 410H1 and 410H2 may be separated from the end of the backcabinet 460 by the predetermined distance Z2 in the vertical direction(i.e., the third direction DR3).

As shown in FIG. 27, at least one of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and410H2 and the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2 may extend further thanthe back cabinet 460 by a predetermined length W6 in the horizontaldirection (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the second directionDR2). The back cabinet 460 may be connected to the back cover 450.

For this, as shown in FIG. 28, the back cover 450 may include asupporter 455 protruding toward the back cabinet 460. The supporter 455may have a fourth hole H4. The supporter 455 may be formed on theinclined part 454 of the back cover 450

As shown in FIG. 29, the back cabinet 460 may have a fifth hole H5corresponding to the fourth hole H4. A fastening member 470, such as ascrew, may pass through the fifth hole H5 and the fourth hole H4 and mayfasten the back cabinet 460 to the back cover 450.

As described above, when the back cover 450 includes the supporter 455protruding toward the back cabinet 460 and the back cabinet 460 isfastened to the back cover 450 using the supporter 455, a fasteningposition between the back cover 450 and the back cabinet 460 mayapproach the outside of the display device. Hence, an increase in athickness of the display device resulting from the fastening between theback cover 450 and the back cabinet 460 while more strongly fasteningthe back cabinet 460 to the back cover 450 may be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 30, a protrusion 1200 may be formed at an edge of theback cabinet 460 to maintain a distance between the end of the backcabinet 460 and the end of the back cover 450. The protrusion 1200 ofthe back cabinet 460 may protrude from an inner surface of the backcabinet 460 toward the back cover 450 in the vertical direction (i.e.,the third direction DR3).

As shown in FIG. 31, the guide panel 430 may include a hanging part 940extending from the external surface EXS of the first end E1 of the sidewall 910 in the horizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1and/or the second direction DR2). An end of the top case 410 may hang onthe hanging part 940 of the guide panel 430.

As shown in FIG. 32, the top case 410 may be connected to the back cover450. For this, the sixth part 550 of each of the horizontal top cases410H1 and 410H2 may have a seventh hole H7, and the back cover 450 mayhave a sixth hole H6 corresponding to the seventh hole H7. For example,the upward part 452 of the back cover 450 may have the sixth hole H6.

A predetermined third fastening member S300 may pass through the seventhhole H7 and the sixth hole H6 and may fasten the horizontal top cases410H1 and 410H2 to the back cover 450. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 33, the third fastening member S300 may fasten the horizontal topcases 410H1 and 410H2 to the back cover 450 through the path 930 of theside wall 910 of the guide panel 430.

The horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2, the vertical top cases 410V1and 410V2, and the back cover 450 may be connected to one another. Forthis, as shown in FIG. 34, the back cover 450 may have an eighth holeH8. For example, the upward part 452 of the back cover 450 may have theeighth hole H8. The first fastening member S100 may pass through thefirst holes H1 of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2, the secondholes H2 of the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2, and the eighth holeH8 of the back cover 450 and may fasten the horizontal top cases 410H1and 410H2, the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2, and the back cover450.

It can be seen from FIG. 35 that the horizontal top cases 410H1 and410H2, the vertical top cases 410V1 and 410V2, and the back cover 450may be fastened by the first fastening member S100.

As shown in FIG. 36, the guide panel 430 may include protrusions 1300and 1310 extending from the side wall 910 in the horizontal direction(i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR2). Morespecifically, the protrusions 1300 and 1310 may extend from the externalsurface EXS of the side wall 910 of the guide panel 430 in thehorizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the seconddirection DR2).

The protrusions 1300 and 1310 may include a first protrusion 1300 and asecond protrusion 1310 which are separated from each other by apredetermined distance D1 in the direction parallel to the long side LSof the display panel 420, i.e., in the first direction DR1 of thehorizontal direction (i.e., the first direction DR1 and/or the seconddirection DR2).

As shown in FIG. 37, the sixth part 550 of each of the horizontal topcases 410H1 and 410H2 may have a first opening OP1 corresponding to thefirst protrusion 1300 and a second opening OP2 corresponding to thesecond protrusion 1310. As shown in FIG. 38, the first protrusion 1300of the guide panel 430 may be inserted into the first opening OP1 ofeach of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2, and the secondprotrusion 1310 of the guide panel 430 may be inserted into the secondopening OP2.

A distance D2 between the third part 520 of each of the horizontal topcases 410H1 and 410H2 and the first protrusion 1300 in the verticaldirection (i.e., the third direction DR3) may be different from adistance D3 between the third part 520 and the second protrusion 1310.Preferably, the distance D2 between the third part 520 of each of thehorizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 and the first protrusion 1300 inthe vertical direction (i.e., the third direction DR3) may be less thanthe distance D3 between the third part 520 and the second protrusion1310. The end of the back cabinet 460 may be positioned between thethird part 520 and the first protrusion 1300 or between the third part520 and the second protrusion 1310.

For example, as shown in FIG. 39, an end EP1 of the back cabinet 460 maybe positioned between the third part 520 and the first protrusion 1300.In this instance, the wall thickness of the back cabinet 460 may be athird wall thickness T3 which is relatively small. For this, the end ofthe back cabinet 460 may at least contain a metal material.

When the back cabinet 460 is formed of the metal material, the backcabinet 460 may be manufactured using the press working method. Hence,the wall thickness T3 of the back cabinet 460 may be relatively small.

In other words, the end EP1 of the back cabinet 460 positioned in therear of the display module 100M may hang on a protrusion extending fromthe side of the display module 100M in the horizontal direction (i.e.,the first direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR2).

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 40, an end EP2 of the back cabinet 460may be positioned between the third part 520 and the second protrusion1310. In this instance, the wall thickness of the back cabinet 460 maybe a fourth wall thickness T4 greater than the third wall thickness T3.For this, the end of the back cabinet 460 may at least contain a plasticmaterial.

When the back cabinet 460 is formed of the plastic material, the backcabinet 460 may be manufactured using the mold working method. Hence,the wall thickness T4 of the back cabinet 460 may be relatively large.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 41, it may be preferable, but notrequired, that the back cabinet 460 has another protrusion 1400 at itsend, so as to insert the back cabinet 460 having the relatively largewall thickness T4 between the third part 520 and the second protrusion1310. The protrusion 1400 may protrude from the end of the back cabinet460 in the first direction DR1.

As shown in FIG. 42, in the rear of the display device 100 in a statewhere the back cabinet 460 and the top case 410 are coupled, at leastone of the horizontal top cases 410H1 and 410H2 and the vertical topcases 410V1 and 410V2 may be exposed at the corner of the display device100.

In FIG. 43, (B) is a cross-sectional view of the display device 100taken along line B1-B2 of (A). Configuration shown in (B) of FIG. 43 wasdescribed in detail above.

In FIG. 44, (A) is a cross-sectional view of the display device 100taken along line B3-B4 of (B) on the first long side LS1 of the displaydevice 100. Configuration shown in (A) of FIG. 44 was described indetail above.

Further, in FIG. 44, (C) is a cross-sectional view of the display device100 taken along line B3-B4 of (B) on the second long side LS2 of thedisplay device 100. As shown in (C) of FIG. 44, a structure 1500 for thesupport may be disposed between the back cover 450 and the back cabinet460 on the second long side LS2 of the display device 100.

Further, a driving board (for example, a printed circuit board) 1510 anda flexible substrate 1520 may be disposed between the back cover 450 andthe back cabinet 460 on the second long side LS2 of the display device100. The flexible substrate 1520 may transmit a driving signal receivedfrom the driving board 1510 to the display panel 420. Further, a lowercover 1600 may be disposed between the back cover 450 and the backcabinet 460 on the second long side LS2 of the display device 100.

As shown in FIG. 45, one end of the lower cover 1600 may be disposedbetween the second horizontal top case and 410H2 and the guide panel430. The sixth part 550 of the second horizontal top case and 410H2 mayhave an eighth hole H8.

The guide panel 430 may have a second hook HK2 inserted into the eighthhole H8 of the second horizontal top case and 410H2. The guide panel 430may further have a third hook HK3 for firmly fixing the lower cover 1600at an end of its side wall 910.

As shown in FIG. 46, the adhesive layer 1000 for attaching the guidepanel 430 to the back surface of the display panel 420 may include abase layer 1010, a first layer 1020 which is formed on a first surfaceFS of the base layer 1010 and has the adhesion, and a second layer 1030which is formed on a second surface RS of the base layer 1010 and hasthe adhesion.

It may be preferable, but not required, that the base layer 1010 may beformed of a material having elasticity. For example, the base layer 1010may be formed of urethane foam.

The adhesive layer 1000 having the above-described configuration mayhave the elasticity and the flexibility as well as the adhesion. Hence,the adhesive layer 1000 may prevent an external force from being appliedto the guide panel 430 and thus may prevent the external force frombeing transferred to the display panel 420. The adhesive layer 1000having the above-described configuration may be referred to as a foampad.

As broadly described and embodied herein, provided is an improveddisplay device capable of reducing a material unnecessarily consumed. Inone aspect, there is a display device which may include a display panel,a back cabinet disposed in the rear of the display panel, and a top caseconfigured to cover an edge of a front surface of the display panel,wherein the top case includes a horizontal top case covering an edge ofthe front surface of the display panel on a long side of the displaypanel and a vertical top case covering an edge of the front surface ofthe display panel on a short side of the display panel, wherein thehorizontal top case and the vertical top case are connected to eachother on the corner of the display panel, wherein the horizontal topcase and the vertical top case are formed of different materials.

The horizontal top case may contain a metal material, and the verticaltop case may contain a plastic material. The horizontal top case mayinclude a first part configured to extend in a horizontal direction, thefirst part including a portion covering the edge of the front surface ofthe display panel on the long side of the display panel, a second partconfigured to extend from a first end of the first part, the second partincluding a portion positioned on the side of the display panel on thelong side of the display panel, and a third part configured to extendfrom an end of the second part in the horizontal direction.

The vertical top case may include a horizontal part configured to extendin the horizontal direction, the horizontal part including a portioncovering the edge of the front surface of the display panel on the shortside of the display panel, and a vertical part configured to extend fromthe horizontal part, the vertical part including a portion positioned onthe side of the display panel on the short side of the display panel.

The horizontal top case may further include a fourth part which extendsfrom a second end opposite the first end of the first part in a verticaldirection and is positioned on the front surface of the display panel onthe long side of the display panel, and a fifth part which extends fromthe fourth part in the horizontal direction and is covered by thehorizontal part of the vertical top case.

The horizontal top case may further include a sixth part configured toextend from the third part in the vertical direction, and the sixth partof the horizontal top case may have a first hole, through which afastening member passes.

The vertical part of the vertical top case may include an extensionextending further than the horizontal part in the horizontal direction.The vertical top case may further include an overlap part which extendsfrom the extension in the horizontal direction and is covered by thehorizontal top case. The overlap part of the vertical top case mayinclude a connection part which extends in the vertical direction andhas a second hole corresponding to the first hole.

The display device may further comprise a back cover positioned betweenthe back cabinet and the display panel. The back cabinet may beconnected to the back cover. At least one of the horizontal top case andthe vertical top case may extend further than the back cabinet in thehorizontal direction.

The third part of the horizontal top case may be separated from the backcabinet by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction. Moreover,a paint or a tape may be applied to a surface of at least one of thehorizontal part and the vertical part of the vertical top case.

As described above, the embodiments of the disclosure can reduce thematerial unnecessarily consumed and thus can reduce the manufacturingcost of the display device.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the scope of the principles of thisdisclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications arepossible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display panelhaving a long side in a first direction, a short side in a seconddirection, and a thickness in a third direction; a back cabinet disposedat a rear of the display panel; and a case that covers at least twosides of the display panel, wherein the case includes a horizontal casethat covers a side of the display panel on the long side of the displaypanel and a vertical case that covers a side of the display panel on theshort side of the display panel, wherein the horizontal case and thevertical case are coupled to each other in a region corresponding to acorner of the display panel, wherein the horizontal case includes: ahorizontal side part extended in the third direction, the horizontalside part including a portion covering the side of the display panel onthe long side of the display panel; and a horizontal back part extendedfrom an end of the horizontal side part in the second direction, whereinthe vertical case includes: a vertical side part extended in the thirddirection, the vertical side part of the vertical case including aportion that covers the side of the display panel on the short side ofthe display panel; a vertical back part extended from an end of thevertical side part of the vertical case in the first direction, and aprotrusion extended from the vertical side part of the vertical case inthe first direction and coupled to the horizontal case.
 2. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the horizontal case further includes a firsthole to accommodate a fastening member and the first hole is positionedadjacent to the protrusion of the vertical case.
 3. The display deviceof claim 2, wherein the protrusion includes a connection part thatextends in the third direction and has a second hole corresponding tothe first hole on the horizontal case.
 4. The display device of claim 3,wherein the display device further comprises a back cover providedbetween the back cabinet and the display panel, wherein the back cabinetis coupled to the back cover.
 5. The display device of claim 4, whereinat least one of the horizontal case and the vertical case extendsfurther than the back cabinet in the first or second directions.
 6. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the horizontal back part of thehorizontal case is separated from the back cabinet by a predetermineddistance in the third direction.
 7. The display device of claim 1,wherein the vertical case further includes an extension extended fromthe vertical side part of the vertical case in the second direction,wherein the protrusion extends from the extension in the firstdirection.
 8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the extension ofthe vertical case is positioned adjacent to an end of the horizontalcase.
 9. The display device of claim 7, wherein the extension of thevertical case covers an end of the horizontal case.
 10. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the vertical case isinserted into the horizontal case.
 11. The display device of claim 1,wherein the display device further comprises: a back cover between thedisplay panel and the back cabinet; and a guide panel between thedisplay panel and the back cover, wherein a back surface of the displaypanel is supported by the guide panel.
 12. The display device of claim11, wherein a part of the guide panel is attached to the back surface ofthe display panel through an adhesive layer.
 13. The display device ofclaim 11, wherein the display device further comprises: a light guidepanel between the display panel and the back cover; and a optical layerbetween the display panel and the light guide panel.
 14. The displaydevice of claim 11, wherein the case is coupled to a part of the backcover by a fastening member.
 15. The display device of claim 1, whereinthe back cabinet covers at least a portion of the horizontal back partof the horizontal case or the vertical back part of the vertical case.16. The display device of claim 11, wherein the back cabinet has a hole,and the back cabinet is coupled to the back cover by a fastening memberpassing through the hole.
 17. A display device comprising: a displaypanel; a back cover behind the display panel; and a front cover providedaround a circumference of the display panel, wherein the front coverincludes a horizontal portion to cover a side along a width of thedisplay panel and a vertical portion to cover a side along a height ofthe display panel, the horizontal portion and the vertical portionhaving prescribed shapes to couple to each other, wherein the horizontalportion includes: a lateral surface that extends along the width of thedisplay panel to cover a side of the display panel, and a rear surfacethat extends vertically from the lateral surface parallel to the backsurface of the display panel, wherein the vertical portion includes aprotrusion extending horizontally from an end of the vertical portioninto the horizontal portion, the protrusion having a hole, and whereinthe horizontal portion and the vertical portion are coupled each otherthrough the hole.
 18. The display device of claim 17, wherein thehorizontal portion includes a first hole provided on the horizontalportion to correspond to a second hole for the vertical portion of thefront cover, wherein the second hole is the hole of the protrusion. 19.The display device of claim 18, wherein the first hole and the secondhole are provided a prescribed distance horizontally from the verticalportion of the front cover.
 20. The display device of claim 18, whereinthe vertical portion includes: a back surface that extends horizontallybehind the display panel to cover an edge along the height of thedisplay panel, and a lateral surface that extends forward from the backsurface of the vertical portion to cover a side of the display panel,wherein a height of the lateral surface of the vertical portion isgreater than a height of the back surface of the vertical portion,wherein the protrusion extends farther than the back surface of thevertical portion, and wherein the second hole is provided on theprotrusion to correspond to the first hole provided on the horizontalportion, the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the frontcase being coupled using a fastener provided through the first andsecond holes.